Structural element



ntented duly 3l, i928.

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PATENT FlFih..

STANLEY MACOMBER, OF MASSILLON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE MACOMBEB STEEL COMPANY, 0F CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OIF OHIO.

STRUCTURAL ELEMENT.

Application 'filed January Myinvention relates to structural elements and particularly to a product adaptable for use as a roof support. The invention particularly relates to a specially termed element particularly adaptable for use for spans of varying lengths Within a given maximum and minimum, whereby a relatively small series of elements each adjustable for a given. spread of spans, Will provide 'for a total spread of spans covering any practicable adj ust abi lit-y.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, such means constituting, however, but one of the various forms in which the principle of the .invention may be illustrated.

ln said annexed drawing:

-Figure l is a side elevation of a complete roof support embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the element ends, upon an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a plan view ot the elements shown in Figure 2; and

igure t is a vertical, transverse section, taltenl in the plane indicated by the line lll-1V, Figure 2.

Referring to "the annexed drawing in which the same elements are indicated by the same respective ordinals in the several views, l denote a base chord of the element by the ordinal 1, the same being `an angle bar having a horizontal flange l and a vert-ical y ln the 'form ot invention illus-V lange l2. tra'ted, this base chord l is of a sufficient length foithemaximum length of span for which the particular element is adapted. However, this main chord 'l might be of a shorter length and supplemented by end members integrated 'therewith to complete the maximum length of the element, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The end sections of the base chord 1 are indicated by the ordinal 2 and disposed adjacently the top of the vertical flanges 22 of' these end sections 2 are the ends ot the horizontal flanges 3 of a curved top chord 3, consist of an angle bar having, in addition to the horizontal lange 3', a Vertical flange 32. The areas Within -which the ends ot the curved top chord lie are adjacent to the end sections 2 of the base chord l but are removed a substantial distance from the eX- treme ends ot lthe base chord 1, as plainly shown. in Figures l, 2 and 3. l complete a 6, 1926. Serial No. 79,531.

truss portion of the element by integrally uniting the body portions of the chords l and 3 through the medium of angle iron diagonals and verticals 4 and. 5 secured to the vertical flanges l2 and 32 of the base andil top chords l and 3, respectively. The several adjacent web bars 4 are arranged alternatively diagonally, as fully appears in F igure nl, so that a series of alternately arranged upright and reverse il-sectors are formed, the adjacent angles at the top and bottom, respectively, of which are quite Widely spaced, and the element is Jfurther reinforced by the vertical web members 5 which bisect the angle of the upright il-sections. The connection between the ends of the web members et and 5 and the chord members l andl 3 is preferably etlected by aro-Welding the areas 6. l further connect ythe base chord l and the top chord 3 by integrating the ends thereot1 through the medium of triangular-shaped vertical gusset plates 7, which, in combination with. the ends 2 of the chord 1, or with other end members connected to the base chord l, if desired, and With special complementary end bars, hereinafter `fully described, form end supports for 'the clement and preferably torni end beams Which furnish adjustable supports for varying spans, as hereinafter fully dcscribed. rThe triangular end tie plates l' i'espectively extend inwardly substantially be ond the areas in which the ends of the chord 3 lie, and substantially within the lines denoting the limits of the minimum span for which the element is adapted, as plainly shown in Figures l and '2. lhe complementary angle member for finishing the supporting base of the element is an angle bar ll having a horizontal flange 11 and a vertical iiange 112. Referring to the inner edge of the tie plate 7, it will be noted that the bottom ofthe same lies slightly above the bottom of the horizontal 'flanges 2 and l1 of t-lie ends 2 and angle bar l1, respectively, and that the top of said inner edge of the tie plate 7 extends slightly above the horizontal flange 3 of the top chord 3. From these bot-tom and top positions the tie plates T eX- tend, respecthf'ely, in a horizont-a1 line and in a downwardly sloping line outwardly to the extreme ends of the base chord l so as to lie somewhat above the bottom and top, respectively,-.o the outer ends of the vertical flange 22, as shown at the estreme lett-hand lll@ end of Figure 2. The integrating of the ends of the base and top chords 1 and 3, respectively, with the tie plates 7 is preferably effected by arc-Welding the areas formed by t-he space immediately below the longitudinal edge of the tie plate-s 7 and between the opposed faces of the flanges 22 and 112, as denoted by the ordinal 14, Figure et, and by arc-welding the angles formed by the faces ot the tie plates 7 and the tops of the flanges 22 and 112 and the bottom of the flanges 32, as denoted by the ordinals 8, .12 and 10, respectively, Figure 4C, and the angle -formed by the vertically-extending edges of the tie plates 7 and the inner edges of the horizontal flanges 3', as denoted by the ordinal E). Thus, l form an integral roof' element having the central truss portion proper and the beam end extensions formed by the ends ot the chords 1 and? 3 and the tie plates .7 and angle bars 11 integrated therewith.

Y This roof ele-meutI is designed to be supported upon concrete columns 16 or other suitable supports and 1 indicate, by the ordinal 13, holes fori anchor bolts or other column connections. in the tie plates 7 for receiving lateral bracing members 18, if and as desired. The top chords 3 arc punchedl vto take wood nailing strips or steel purlins, as desired.

Thus, in addition to the particular conn bination of elements forming a roof element, l may provide means whereby the concrete or other column supports 16 may be disposed I varying distances apart within certain limits and still the roof element will perform the required duty. ln the element illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the limits are indicated by the minimum clear span and the maximum clear span, Figures 1 and 2. rthese spans are the clear distances between the supports 1G. I indicate in Figure 3 by full lines and dot-aud-dash lines, respective ly, supports 16 for the maximum and minimum spans and l also indicate by the plurality of holes 13 for anchor bolts the possibility of the support columns 1G lying anywhere within the limits indicated. If desired, the element may be. cut Within the limits tothe desired lengt-h and the truss feature of the same is not disturbed, the beam end supporting extensions formed by the flanges 2 and '11 and reinforced by the tie plates 7 and the ends of the top chord 3 being suitable f'or support-s anywhere within the maximum and minimum limits stated. The broad idea of central truss sections and end. beam extensions in a structural unit, for use in varying lengths and preserving both the beam and truss effects, forms the subject-matter of other patent applications filed by me and the same broadly is not claimed in this application but only the adapt-ation el the same to the particular form of curved chord root element hereinbefore described I also provide holes 17' particular combination of elements for a A roof element suitable for use in one length only.

What I claim is:

1. A. structural element comprising an angle bar forming a base chord, a curved second angle bar forming a top chord, web members secured to the vertical flangesof said bars, the ends of the horizontal flanges of the top chord being disposed adjacent the edges of the vertical flanges of the base chord and a substantial distance from the respective ends of the latter', vertical longitudinal tie plates secured tothe Vertical flanges of said chords and extending inwardly sub= stantially beyond the ends of the top chord, and complementary flanged bars welded to the bottom of the opposite faces of saidtie plates to complete a plain balanced base for the element, whereby the element may be adjusted to varying distances between supports within the maximum limit of the length of the base chord and the minimum limit of' somewhat more than the distance between the inner edges of" the tie plates,

2. A structural element comprising an angle bar forming a base chord, a curved second angle bar forming a top chord, web members welded to the vertical flanges of said bars, the ends of the top chord being disposed a substantial distance from the respective ends of the base chord longitudinal triangular-shaped tie plates extending inwardly in a regularly increasing height from the ends of said base chord to points substantially beyond the ends of the top chord.I the inner vertical edges of said tie plates extending flush with said vertical flanges from a point slightly above the bottom of the fmv horizontal ange of the base chord to a point above the top of the horizontal flange of' the top chord, said chords and tie plates being welded together at the junction lines formed by the upper and lower edges of said vertical ,flanges and said tie plates, and complementary flanged bars Welded to the bottom of the opposite faces of said tie plates to complete a plain balanced base for the element, whereby the element may be adjusted to varying distances between supports'within the maximum limit of the length of the base chordand the minimum limit of somewhat more than the distance between the inner edges of the tie plates, the integrated ends flanges secured upon one side of said tie plates and adjacent the bottom edge thereof, said tie lates being disposed .between the vertical anges of said base chord and said extension members, said base chord, exten'- sion members and said tie plates aording end supports.

4. A structural element comprising an angle bar forming a base chord, a curved second angle bar forming a top chord, web members secured to the vertical flanges of said bars, vertical longitudinal triangular shaped end tie plates extending inwardly in a regularly increasing height from the ends of said base chord. the inner vertical edges of said tie plates extending flush with said vertical flanges from a point slightly above thc bottom of the horizontal lange of the base chord to a point above the top of the horizontal ange of the top chord, said chords and tie plates being Welded together at the junction lines formed by the upper and lower edges of said vertical flanges and said tie plates, and complementary angle bars welded to the bottom of the opposlte faces of said tie plates to complete a plane balanced base for the element, the integrated ends of the chords, complementary bars, and tie plates forming beams affording end supports for the element.

5. A structural element comprising a base chord having a vertical flange, a top chord having a vertical flange, web members se# cured to said chords, vertical tie plates eX- tended inwardly from the ends of saidl `chords and secured to the respective vertical anges of the latter, and complementary base members having vert-ical langes secured to the bottom of the tie plate faces opposite to those to which the base chord -flanges are secured, to complete balanced supporting ends for the element.

Signed by me this 1st day of December, 1925.

`STANLEY MAcoMBER. 

